University of Texas - El Paso Women's Soccer

Gibbs Keeton was appointed as the fourth head coach in UTEP soccer history on Dec. 7, 2022.   In just two years, the El Paso native and Montwood High School graduate has begun to put his stamp on the program while renewing interest throughout the city. He has also rebuilt the roster, adding 10+ newcomers each year. Fan attendance per tilt more than doubled from 2022 (199) to 2023 (426) while increasing again in 2024 (510, best since 2017), with Keeton’s return to the Borderland sending ripples throughout the soccer community in the Sun City. The Miners have averaged 463 fans during his tenure, which is the most over a two-year span at the school since 2015-16 (501 per contest).   He has implemented a defensive tenacity and toughness on the pitch, with the Miners yielding the second-fewest goals (18) and registering the fourth-best goals against average (1.06) in program history in 2024. UTEP posted four shutouts, including back-to-back blankings to start the season for the first time since 2016. Additionally, the Orange and Blue produced the second campaign in program history (2014 is the other) where the opposition failed to tally more than two goals in a single tilt.   UTEP finished at 4-3 at home in 2024, securing the first winning record at University Field since the 2020 season (3-0-2) that was contested in the spring of 2021 due to Covid-19.   Individually, Mina Rodriguez (second team) and Ana Quintero (third team) were tabbed as All-CUSA honorees. It was the first time in four years that multiple Miners were so distinguished. Quintero and Sydney Williams secured spots on the CUSA All-Freshman team. UTEP has now had two players on that squad in back-to-back years for the initial occasion since joining CUSA. Angelina Amparano earned placement on the CUSA All-Academic first team.   Keeton added 10 newcomers, including six freshmen and four transfers, for his first year on the sidelines in 2023. Three different individuals grabbed CUSA postseason awards, with Sheyliene Patolo (CUSA All-Conference Third Team), Nicole Morales (CUSA All-Freshman Team) and Ashlyn Neireiter (All-Freshman Team) all securing recognition.   Cayman Tamez (3.81 GPA, criminal justice, first team) and Maia Rodriguez (3.57 GPA, nursing, second team) were voted to the CUSA All-Academic team. It was the first time since 2016 that UTEP boasted multiple players on the team. The duo went on to earn placement on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, something that hadn’t occurred since 2015.   Keeton joined the Miners from Texas Tech, where he served as Associate Head Coach for the previous four years.  He was a member of the Red Raider staff since 2009 and coordinated recruiting efforts for the program since 2013.  During his tenure in Lubbock, he helped orchestrate a turnaround from Big 12 bottom dweller to perennial NCAA Tournament contender. Texas Tech finished in the top-five of the Big 12 standings nine times over the last 12 seasons with Keeton on staff, including tied for second (9-4-6 overall, 5-1-3 league) during the 2022 campaign.  The Red Raiders also finished second in the Big 12 in 2013 (18-2-3, 6-0-2) and 2019 (15-4-3, 6-1-2).  In 2015, Texas Tech made a run to the Big 12 Tournament championship as a 5 seed, defeating Kansas, 1-0, in the final.   The Red Raiders earned NCAA Tournament bids during the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons, posting a combined six victories in the event while reaching the “Sweet 16” in 2014.   Keeton coached 16 Red Raiders to the professional ranks during his time at Texas Tech, including current NWSL pros Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns/Canada WNT), Kirsten Davis (Racing Louisville), and Jaelene Daniels (NC Courage).  Red Raiders playing abroad include Carly Wickenheiser (Sweden) and Brooke Denesik (Germany), who were part of the 2018 team that posted a nation-leading 14 shutouts and a conference-best 0.53 goals against average.  Also abroad is Keeton-coached goalkeeper Victoria Esson (Scotland), who holds the Tech record for shutouts with 29 and has been capped four times by the New Zealand Women’s National Team.  In 2013, Texas Tech set a school record with 17 shutouts and a .739 shutout percentage that ranked second in the country.  The Red Raiders were third in the NCAA in goals against average and sixth in save percentage that year.   Keeton was involved with all aspects of the daily operation of Texas Tech Soccer, including practice planning and implementation, opponent scouting, strength and conditioning and scheduling.  As Director of Recruiting, he fostered relationships with major youth clubs in Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Omaha, Phoenix, San Antonio, Southern California and Tucson.  He was also the soccer camp director at Texas Tech; through his efforts, the camp attendance grew by 15 percent annually.   He earned his B.S. in Exercise Sports Science from Texas Tech in 2007, and his M.S. in Health Exercise Sport Science in 2008.  He played his collegiate soccer at Grand Canyon University and was a member of the Arizona Sahuaros of the Professional Development League prior to enrolling at Texas Tech. Keeton and his wife, Sydney, have three kids (Sophie, Cruz and Cali). 

2023 was Morgan McDougal’s first as part of the Miner coaching staff.  She helped coach three student-athletes to CUSA All-Conference honors and another two were selected to CUSA All-Academic Teams.   Sheyliene Patolo was voted to the CUSA All-Conference Third Team while Nicole Morales and Ashlyn Neireiter both received CUSA All-Freshman Team nods.   Additionally, Cayman Tamez (3.81 GPA, Criminal Justice) and Maia Rodriguez (3.57 GPA, Nursing) were selected to the CUSA All-Academic First and Second teams, respectively.   The duo was also selected to the College Sports Communicators 2023 Academic All-District Team, which marks the first time since 2015 that two Miners have earned a spot on the All-District Team.   2023 also saw a spike in game attendance at University Field. Attendance numbers more than doubled from the 2022 season. The average attendance of 426 was the highest since 2016 when UTEP Soccer averaged 540 fans under former head coach Kevin Cross. McDougal was named an assistant with the UTEP soccer program in January of 2023.  Prior to joining the Miners, McDougal was most recently on the coaching staff at St. Mary's (Texas) where she helped lead the Rattlers to a 12-5-4 mark this past season that culminated in a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.   In her initial season with St. Mary's in 2021, the team won nine games, nearly doubling the win total of five from the year prior.   After prepping at Mountain Vista High in Colorado, McDougal played two seasons at Oklahoma State before finishing her career with Wyoming. With Wyoming, she earned Academic All-Mountain West accolades. In addition, she helped the team reach the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament as a senior in 2018 with three assists and a game-winning goal.   No stranger to the pulse of the local soccer scene, McDougal coached four players from El Paso last season with St. Mary's and another from nearby Las Cruces.   She recently received her USSF D license and will begin work towards her C license this fall.

In Jared Hallman’s first season as part of the Miner coaching staff, three student-athletes earn CUSA All-Conference honors and another two be selected to CUSA All-Academic Teams.   Sheyliene Patolo was voted to the CUSA All-Conference Third Team while Nicole Morales and Ashlyn Neireiter both received CUSA All-Freshman Team nods.   Additionally, Cayman Tamez (3.81 GPA, Criminal Justice) and Maia Rodriguez (3.57 GPA, Nursing) were selected to the CUSA All-Academic First and Second teams, respectively.   The duo was also selected to the College Sports Communicators 2023 Academic All-District Team, which marks the first time since 2015 that two Miners have earned a spot on the All-District Team.   2023 also saw a spike in game attendance at University Field. Attendance numbers more than doubled from the 2022 season. The average attendance of 426 was the highest since 2016 when UTEP Soccer averaged 540 fans under former head coach Kevin Cross. Hallman joined the UTEP soccer coaching staff in January of 2023.  Before joining the Miners, Hallman spent the previous five-plus years with the Texas Tech women's soccer program in a variety of roles. He also played for current UTEP Soccer Head Coach Gibbs Keeton from 2012-16 as part of FC Dallas West Texas. His experience working at Tech allowed him to be involved in multiple roles including session plan set up, travel and additional team admin.   During his time as a student at Texas Tech, Hallman worked for several organizations in different coaching roles including the Red Raider Soccer Academy, FC Dallas West Texas and Red Raider Soccer Camps.   With FC Dallas West Texas, Hallman served as the head coach of the girls U13 team. He was the summer camp director for the past four years at Texas Tech.   Prior to his time at Texas Tech, Hallman played his freshman season at Lubbock Christian.